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Open Water Diver,
Open Water Nitrox Diver
Open Water Rebreather Diver

1. This Program emphasizes the skills and knowledge needed to develop a safer novice diver and to develop a sense of confidence and responsibility in those joining the adventures of underwater discovery.
2. This Program qualifies a diver to dive to a maximum depth of 60 fsw (18 msw).
3. Upon completion of the Open Water Nitrox Diver Program, the diver may dive any EANx mixture from Air to EAN 40.
4. Upon completion of the Open Water Rebreather Diver course the diver may dive the rebreather trained on or Open Circuit SCUBA using EANx mixtures as required on the rebreather or in Open circuit from air to EAN 40.

Prerequisites

1. Must be a minimum of 15 years of age with a parent or guardian authorization, or a minimum of 12 years of age for Junior Diver qualification, or a minimum of 18 years of age without guardian approval. For Rebreather Open Water Diver, must be 18 years of age.

Texts

1. IANTD Open Water Diver Student Manual and Workbook or equivalent text(s) approved in writing by the Board of Directors (written approval will be issued by IAND, Inc./IANTD World Headquarters).

   Or, For Open Water Nitrox Diver:

2. IANTD Open Water Nitrox Diver Student Manual and Workbook or equivalent text(s) approved in writing by the Board of Directors (written approval will be issued by IAND, Inc./IANTD World Headquarters).

   Or, For Open Water Rebreather Diver:

3. IANTD Open Water Rebreather Student Manual and Workbook or equivalent text(s) approved in writing by the Board of Directors (written approval will be issued by IAND, Inc./IANTD World Headquarters).

Program Content

1. Include all material in the approved textbook and meet all minimum performance skills.
2. At least one general lecture must be included addressing the psychological aspects of SCUBA diving. This must include responsible diver attributes, and risk awareness and management for Sport diving.
3. All lecture topics in the OW slides must be covered and all the water skills must be practiced until reasonable proficiency in each skill has been achieved. For the OWND the text and workbook materials in the EANx course must be completed.
4. The Program must include a minimum of 80 minutes of OW bottom time completed within 4 to 6 SCUBA dives and, even if the time requirements are exceeded, a minimum of 4 SCUBA dives must be made. For qualification as OWND Diver, two dives must be on EANx.
5. Divers completing Open Water Semi Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver must make 6 dives of which 4 will be on the Rebreather, with a minimum of 240 minutes of dive time on the SCR.
6. Divers completing the Rebreather Diver course on Closed Circuit Rebreathers must make 10 dives of which 8 must be on the rebreather, with a minimum of 500 minutes of dive time on the CCR.
7. Students completing the Rebreather OW diver program must have a minimum of 120 minutes of combined confined water and open water dive time, and a minimum of 2 dives in open water, using open-circuit SCUBA.
8. A snorkel dive is recommended.
9. Complete a written exam with a minimum score of 80%. The OWND must also complete the EANx Diver written exam with a minimum score of 80%.

Equipment Requirements

1. Fulfill all Equipment Requirements as specified in the general Sport Diver Programs overview.

Program Limits

1. There may be no more than 8 students per Instructor. This ratio may be increased by 2 students for each assisting IANTD Divemaster, up to a maximum of 12 students with 2 IANTD Divemasters per class session.
2. OW dives 1 and 2 must be conducted to depths between 20 fsw (6 msw) and 30 fsw (9 msw). At least one of dives 3 or 4 must be conducted to a depth between 30 fsw (9 msw) and 60 fsw (18 msw).
3. Appropriate safety decompression stops must be performed.

Waterskills Development 

1. All skills in the Open Water Diver course are to be taught and practiced in a pool or confined water before moving into the OW dives.
2. Plan dives and demonstrate ability to act as a responsible diver.
3. Swim 600 feet (180 meters)
4. Remain afloat with a minimum of effort.
5. Mask clearing.
6. Snorkel clearing and use.
7. Surface entries: head first, and feet first.
8. Flutter and frog kicks.
9. Tow a diver for a distance of 30 feet (9 meters) with both the upper body method and again by the fin push method.
10. Swim on the surface for 30 feet (9 meters) breathing through a snorkel without a mask.
11. With mask, fins and snorkel, swim a distance of 1,200 feet (360 meters) on the surface.
12. Swim a distance of 10 feet (3 meters) underwater, recover and clear mask and partially clear snorkel.
13. Swim using mask, snorkel and fins for a distance of 33 feet (10 meters) underwater without surfacing.
14. Demonstrate proficiency in surface diving technique.
15. Use SCUBA at rest.
16. Mask and regulator clearing.
17. Regulator recovery.
18. Swim SCUBA for 5 minutes, getting used to equipment.
19. Practice buoyancy control and body posture.
20. While on SCUBA, practice finning techniques.
21. Swim underwater using SCUBA without mask for 30 feet (9 meters).
22. Swim on surface using a snorkel while wearing full SCUBA gear for a distance of 200 feet (60 meters).
23. Swim on back (face up) on the surface while wearing full SCUBA gear for a distance of 200 feet (60 meters).
24. Swim on the surface using SCUBA and BCD as a front-oriented surface float for a distance of 100 feet (30 meters).
25. Do a lateral Emergency Swimming Ascent (ESA).
26. Simulate a vertical ESA by free-diving from the deep end of a pool.
27. Simulate or perform (Instructor’s option) manual gas sharing emergency. The simulation is accomplished by the gas-donor diver handing regulator off as in actual gas sharing, but gas-recipient diver breathes two breaths from his/her own regulator, then returns the regulator back to the gas-donor diver. At this time, the gas-recipient diver regulator is removed from the mouth until the simulated regulator is handed back. The gas-recipient diver must swim a distance of at least 25 feet (8 meters) (without breathing, and exhaling slowly) and commence simulated gas sharing. At least three breaths are taken at rest, followed by a 10-minute swim at a normal swim rate or equivalent method.
28. Perform alternate gas source (octopus, secondary regulator, alternate air, etc.) gas sharing drill. The gas-recipient diver must swim a distance of at least 30 feet (9 meters) (without breathing, and exhaling slowly) to the gas-donor diver and commence gas sharing on the alternate second stage. Remain at rest for three breaths and then swim, sharing gas for 5 minutes, at a normal swim pace.
29. On the surface, remove and replace SCUBA gear. Repeat underwater on the bottom, at a depth no greater than 20 fsw (6 msw).
30. Demonstrate proficient buoyancy control.
31. On all dives, ascend at a rate of 30 feet (9 meters) per minute or slower.
32. On dive 2, 3 or 4 do a vertical ESA from approximately 20 feet (6 meters).
33. Demonstrate the ability to configure equipment neatly.
34. For Open Water Rebreather Diver Course, the skills on the rebreather as listed in the Rebreather Standards must be performed.

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This page was last updated 02/17/07